Coconut oil refers to a kind of fat that has been often cited for its various types of health benefits. There have been studies that show that coconut oil can decrease the levels of cholesterol LDL and help in enhancing brain performance among Alzheimer’s patients. Besides such heal benefits there are benefits of using coconut oil for skin. It can work wonders on your skin by various means and this article mentioned few of the major skin benefits that coconut oil offers.
Why you should use coconut oil?
Before knowing about the benefits of coconut oil for skin one should know what exactly coconut oil is. This oil is a highly saturated element that is generally made from coconuts. The oil is extracted from raw coconuts and at times dried kernels of coconuts are also used.
This oil remains solid in normal room temperature. However, if it is heated then the oil can melt or soften. In most cases, coconut oil is applied directly to hair and skin without mixing anything in it. A number of people use coconut oil for cooking as well. The oil contains high amounts of fatty acids that are of medium-chain quality. It is also rich in saturated fat.
Benefits of coconut oil for skin
The primary benefits of coconut oil for skin are mentioned below.
Killing injurious microorganisms
Given the fact that coconut oil contains a lot of medium-chained fatty acids it can help to protect the skin from dangerous microorganisms. The fatty acids give the oil its antimicrobial qualities and help it to fight the microorganisms. The skin gets greatly benefitted by this as applying the oil helps in killed various fungi and bacteria that cause skin problems.
If you apply coconut oil regularly on your skin without any adulteration then you will be able to prevent these microorganisms growing on your skin.
Treating acne
There have been some researches that prove that using coconut oil for skin can help in treating the problems of acne. Acne is a type of inflammatory condition and the medications used for it helps in treating the inflammation.
Given the fact that coconut oil has certain anti-inflammatory properties, it might help in treating acne as well. Moreover, the fatty acids and antibacterial elements present in coconut oil can also help in fighting acne.
Reduction of inflammation
Inflammation can cause a variety of disorders in the skin that includes contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema. Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory qualities that help it to find these skin conditions. It can improve the anti-oxidant status of your skin and thus ease the amount of inflammation affecting it. Besides helping with inflammations, it can also reduce pains caused by various skin problems.
Healing wounds
Using coconut oil for skin can also help you with healing your wounds. Though the researches have primarily been conducted on animals, the results are satisfying. Applying virgin coconut oil on certain wounds helps to speed up the process of recovery and healing.
When coconut oil is mixed with antibiotics, it helps in aiding wounds that have come from burns. Besides healing the wounds, coconut oil also helps in reducing infections as well.
Moisturizing dry skin
Besides making your skin free of various skin problems, coconut oil can also make it well-nourished. If you apply coconut oil regularly on your skin then it would stay hydrated as well as moisturized.
If you have extremely dry skin and are not satisfied with the results of the market bought products then you should give coconut oil a try. You will have o apply it directly on your skin and after a period of regular usage, you will see the results for yourself.
Works as an eye cream
If you do not want to splurge on expensive eye cream and yet want to make your eyes beautiful, you can opt for coconut oil. You will have to get a piece of cotton with coconut oil and dab it around your eyes gently after your nighttime regime. Applying coconut oil on your eyes will help in keeping the skin plump and hydrated. It will also help in reducing any type of fine lines of aging appearing around the eyes.
Works as an exfoliator
You can use coconut oil as an exfoliator with moisturizing qualities. Just add a dash of coarse salt or sugar to the oil to prepare a natural and mildly scented exfoliator for your skin. You can apply it on your body as well as on your face. You can also use this pack for scrubbing your feet or try eye-wear.
Coconut oil for face
The face is one of the most important parts of our body. Everyone wants to keep their faces beautiful and clean. However, faces often get affected by various skin problems and create troubles. That is why many people use coconut oil for face to keep the skin of their face radiant and fresh.
The primary advantage of using coconut oil on your face over the chemical made products is that this oil is natural. It would not do any harm to your skin and will only benefit it. The various perks of using coconut oil on your face are mentioned below.
Smoothening the skin
If you find that the skin of your face is getting rough and dry then you can try applying coconut oil on your face. The oil is high anti-fungal and anti-bacterial qualities and this helps to enhance the skin. Coconut oil also contains large amounts of lauric acid and that helps in making the skin of your face smoother.
Fighting wrinkles
Getting wrinkles is a common sign of aging. However, with the regular use of coconut oil you can fight them. Coconut oil works on the overall health of your skin and thus naturally makes the skin of your face better. Your face skin will remain hydrated and smooth and thus the signs of wrinkles will be barely visible.
A number of skincare products use coconut oil as one of their main components because of its anti-inflammatory and other related qualities. However, you can choose to use coconut oil directly for better results as it is completely natural.
These are the primary benefits of coconut oil on the skin. When you regularly use this oil, you are bound to se amazing results on your skin.
Who should not use coconut oil on the skin?
Despite the various benefits of coconut oil on your skin, it is not for everyone. People who should not use coconut oil on their skin are discussed below:
People have oily skin
If your skin is already quite oily then you should not apply coconut oil on it. Using coconut oil on already oily skin will block the skin pores and might also create blackheads. Thus, you should first understand your skin type and then apply coconut oil.
People with sensitive skin
If you have a skin that is too sensitive then you should think twice before applying coconut oil on it. You should first try applying the oil on a small portion of your skin to check if it’s causing irritation or itching. If you see there is no irritation then you can proceed. However, if it itches even slightly then you should not apply the oil on your skin. It might lead to various skin problems like rashes and blisters.
Coconut oil for hair
The benefits of coconut oil are not only limited to skin and health. There are many benefits that can be availed by using coconut oil for hair. It is quite a popular choice among people as a hair product. The primary benefits of using coconut oil on your hair are mentioned below.
Hair growth
One of the major benefits of using coconut oil on your hair is that it promotes the growth of hair. The various components of coconut oil help in hair growth. It also makes the hair stronger and shinier. If you have dull and dry hair, you can use coconut oil regularly and see the changes for yourself. It works as a moisturizer on your hair and prevents it from getting lifeless and dry.
Improves scalp health
If you suffer from various scalp problems like itching, dryness of the scalp or lice then you can use coconut oil on your hair. The oil helps in enhancing the health of the scalp and keeps it healthier. Coconut oil also has properties that help in fighting dandruff as well.
However, make sure that you shampoo your hair after applying coconut oil on a regular basis. Skipping on the shampoo part might make your hair too moist and create other hair related troubles.
Fights hair loss
Besides promoting hair growth, coconut oil also helps in fighting the loss of hair. If you apply coconut oil daily or at least thrice a week, your hair fall problems will get solved. You can also make several hair packs with coconut oil and apply it on your scalp and hair for fighting hair fall.
Adding thickness to the hair
Everyone loves to have lustrous hair that shines and is thick. You can now easily have such hair with the use of coconut oil. Apply coconut oil at daily intervals on your head will help you to make your hair thicker and stronger. The oil also adds a natural shine to the hair and makes it look darker and thick.
Preventing split ends
Split ends are a common problem among ladies who have medium or long hair. Due to the excessive pollution all around us, one can often face the problems of split ends. The natural way of fighting this problem is using coconut oil. The oil’s various anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal qualities help in working on the health of your hair and fight split ends. This naturally contributes to the growth of hair.
Health benefits of coconut oil
Besides knowing about the advantages of using coconut oil for your skin and hair, one should also be aware of the health benefits of coconut oil. The oil has qualities that will have positive impacts on your hath. This is why more and more people are now using coconut oil for cooking their daily meals. The primary benefits of cooking with coconut oil are mentioned below.
A healthy combination of fatty acids
Coconut oil contains saturated fat that is quite rare. These include medium-chained fatty acids and lauric acids. These elements make coconut oil ideal for cooking fried meals. Thus, if you love to eat fried food then you should use coconut oil for frying. It would cause lesser harm than using other oils.
Improving blood lipids
Coconut oil has an exceptional quantity of lauric acid present in it. This particular type of saturated fat allegedly helps in improving the composition of the lipids of blood. Besides that, coconut oil also helps in increasing the level of good HDL cholesterols. This further helps in the prevention of heart diseases. You can use coconut oil to cook your daily meals to get these benefits.
Helping in weight loss
There have been some studies that show that coconut oil can help in the reduction of belly fat. It can also suppress the appetite of an individual. Such qualities suggest that coconut oil can help in reducing weight. However, the studies conducted are very lesser in number and thus this benefit of using coconut oil is not very certainly claimed by researches.
Fights diabetes
Coconut helps in fighting diabetes. You can enjoy sweets made of coconut without worrying about your insulin level going up. It would rather give your energy and will keep your sugar level balanced.
These are the primary benefits of coconut oil for skin. However, make sure that you are not using too much of this oil as it might lead to various adverse effects as well. The best way is to keep the usage to a healthy limit. You can also cook your food with coconut oil but only after making sure that you are not allergic to it.
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